What do BTW, FAQ, FYI, IMHO, RTFM, and other acronyms mean? (2024)
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These are all abbreviations for specific phrases commonly used ininformal written computer correspondence, online forums and boards,and online gaming. Following are some common acronyms and theirmeanings:
AFAIC
As far as I'm concerned
AFAIK
As far as I know
AFK
Away from keyboard
BRB
Be right back
BTDT
Been there, done that
BTW
By the way
BUAG
Butt-ugly ASCII graphic
C/C
Comments and criticism
EOM
End of message
FAQ
Frequently Asked Question(s). When people say "the FAQ", they are generally referring to a list of answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
FTFY
Fixed that for you; often accompanied by a correction
FTW
For the win
FWIW
For what it's worth
FYI
For your information
HTH
Hope this helps
IANAL
I am not a lawyer
IIRC
If I recall correctly
IMHO
In my humble opinion
IMNSHO
In my not so humble opinion
IMO
In my opinion
IOW
In other words
l33t or 1337
From "elite". This has become a term used to describe the informal communication of Internet gaming. L33t speak is easily identified by the substitution of number and other characters for regular letters; e.g., hackers becomes h4XX0rz.
Massive multiplayer online role-playing game (e.g., World of Warcraft or Star Wars Galaxies); sometimes shortened to MMO
MOTAS
Member of the appropriate sex
MOTOS
Member of the opposite sex
MOTSS
Member of the same sex
NG
Newsgroup
n00b
From "newbie", meaning a newcomer not yet familiar with the rules
NT
No text; usually in the subject line of a message with no body
OMG
Oh my God
OTOH
On the other hand
PWN
Usage of the term "own", as in "I PWNed you!"
QQ
Cry more, noob (representation of eyes crying, often found in MMORPGs)
RL
Real life, as opposed to the Internet
ROFL
Rolling on the floor laughing
ROFLMAO
Rolling on the floor laughing my butt off
RTFM
Read the fine manual. This may be interpreted as: "You have asked a question which would best be answered by consulting the manual (or FAQ, or other help files), a copy of which should be in your possession. The question you have asked is clearly answered in the manual and you are wasting time asking people to read it to you." It's good netiquette to mail this type of answer to another user rather than post it in public messages.
SO
Significant other; used to refer to someone's romantic partner
This little acronym, IMHO, stands for in my humble opinion. It's often used as a typing shortcut in online communication. When it is capitalized, you are shouting.
RTFM is an initialism and internet slang for the expression "read the f*cking manual" – typically used to reply to a basic question where the answer is easily found in the documentation, user guide, owner's manual, man page, online help, internet forum, software documentation or FAQ.
Fyi is an abbreviation for the phrase “for your information.” The term can be traced back to the 1930s, when it was used by journalists to indicate that the messages they sent by wire—or parts of the messages—were for the eyes of the person receiving the message, not for further publication.
FTW is an abbreviation of the phrase for the win. For the win is a slang expression that enthusiastically conveys something is excellent or will succeed—it's awesome, the greatest, the best ever.
January 2024) TL;DR or tl;dr, short for "too long; didn't read", is internet slang often used to introduce a summary of an online post or news article. It is also used as an informal interjection commenting that a block of text has been ignored due to its length. The phrase dates back to at least 2002.
IMO is simply a way of expressing an opinion. "This is what I think about the topic". IMHO normally has some sincerity in the humility: "This is what I think about the topic, but I am not an expert". It is often used also to mean "This is what I think, please don't flame me if you disagree".
imho (in my honest/humble opinion) or imo (in my opinion) are more common in informal text/written communication and is internet slang. imao is the opposite of imho (arrogant is the opposite of humble) be used to express your opinion arrogantly (when you believe you are more important than others).
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